Elk Falls Provincial Park

IUCN Category II - National Park

The Elk case

The Elk Falls Provincial Park is a 1087 -hectare Provincial Park in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is located near the town of Campbell River on Vancouver Island Iceland and has a large campsite. The park is located in the Strathcona Regional District and can be reached via Highway 28.

Plant

The park is located about two kilometers from the city of Campbell River. It is located at the eastern end of the John Hart Lake at Campbell River and intersected by Highway 28. The main attraction of the park are the Elk Falls, a waterfall about 25 feet high, with those of Campbell River plunges over a cliff into a canyon from high cliffs. About four miles downstream lies at the mouth of the River Quinsam in Campbell River the campground. In the park is a protected area category II (National Park).

History

The forest on the grounds of the park was one of the first areas on Vancouver Iceland, which were cleared, as the wood on the Campbell River could be transported easily. By 1929, the park area was largely cleared. 1938 devastated a forest fire nearly 300 square kilometers deforested wooded area near Campbell River. The burned land was reforested large areas again. The Provincial Park was established on December 20, 1940 and originally comprised 1124 acres of land. 1946, the park was reduced to 102 hectares for the construction of the John Hart dam and the associated hydropower plant. Due to the dam of Campbell River was dammed to John Hart Lake in 1948, the hydroelectric power plant, the John Hart Generating Station, since 1952 used to operate a paper and pulp mill. By the hydroelectric plant, the amount of water the Elk can greatly reduce, if in summer. Various minor annexations and growth since 1946 led to today's park size of 1087 hectares.

Flora and Fauna

Within the ecosystem of British Columbia, the park area of the Coastal Douglas - fir zone is assigned.

The park is mostly forested with secondary forest of Douglas fir, coastal pines, giant trees of life, coastal pines, Western Weymouth pine, red alder, Oregon maple and other trees. The understory is typical coast. There you will find, among other things Shallon bill berry, forest - foam spars, Moosglöckchen and the shield fern -Art Sword Fern. In the immediate vicinity of the waterfall, the only remaining significant Douglas-fir forest on Vancouver Iceland is north of MacMillan Provincial Park.

The Quinsam and the Campbell River spawning areas are mainly of king and silver salmon and therefore the scene of salmon runs. Besides salmon are in the river rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and char. The park is home mainly small mammals such as raccoons, chipmunks and muskrats. On Beaver Pond and at Kingfisher Pond live beaver, also come in Park Canada herons, wedge-tailed Plover, Bering sea gulls and other bird species. Deer are uncommon in winter in the park.

Activities

From May to October, the visit to the park is chargeable. The park is good all year as one of the best salmon fishing spots in Canada. This and the waterfall make the park one of the most visited parks on Vancouver Iceland. The park is crossed six km hiking trails, the park borders a network of forest roads. About the Canyon of the Campbell River performs a viewing bridge. In the vicinity of the campsite is the Quinsam fish farming station, which equips the Quinsam River pink salmon, king salmon, silver salmon and rainbow trout. The park has a campground with 122 spaces on Quinsam River. The park has a large picnic area.